SpectaCell's $6.5M Launch Could Change How Immunotherapies Are Developed

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

SpectaCell just came out of stealth with $6.5 million in seed funding, and it's tackling one of the biggest headaches in immunotherapy: figuring out which treatments actually work before they reach patients. The Ghent-based startup spun out of imec, VIB, and Ghent University. The round was led by imec.xpand, with participation from PMV's Flanders Future Tech Fund, InnovationQuarter Capital, Qbic, and VIB. ### Why Cell Analysis Is Stuck in the Slow Lane Immunotherapies are rewriting the rules for treating cancer and immune disorders. But predicting which candidates will succeed in patients—and then producing them consistently—remains a massive challenge. Here's the problem: most existing tests measure indirect signals or averages across a sample. That means important differences between individual cells can vanish into the noise. Developers end up making decisions with incomplete information, and patients wait longer for treatments that might not even work. As Tony Montoye, CEO and co-founder of SpectaCell, puts it: "Breakthrough medicines need breakthrough tools. Researchers need to know much earlier which candidates deserve further investment and why." ### A New Way to See What Treatments Actually Do SpectaCell's platform combines chip-based imaging with data analysis to track large numbers of individual cells and their interactions—directly, at high resolution, and over time. No fluorescent labels that can mess with cell behavior. Just clear, detailed insight. The company is building an easy-to-use, cartridge-based instrument designed to deliver results in hours instead of days. That's a big deal when you're trying to speed up drug development. Applications include cell therapies and T-cell engagers—treatments that help immune cells recognize and attack cancer cells. The platform is aimed at pharmaceutical and biotech companies, plus specialist manufacturers worldwide. - **Researchers** can compare drug candidates more effectively. - **Development teams** can improve production processes. - **Manufacturers** can assess whether each batch meets performance standards. ### The Bigger Picture Benoit Devogelaere, Partner at imec.xpand, sees massive potential: "SpectaCell brings together disruptive semiconductor technology, an experienced team and a major commercial opportunity in drug development and manufacturing. We are convinced that SpectaCell can become essential to how new medicines are selected, developed and produced." With this fresh capital, SpectaCell plans to further develop and commercialize its platform with pharma partners. If it works as promised, it could set a new industry standard and build a globally competitive life-sciences business. And ultimately, that means better medicines, sooner—for patients who need them.